Initiating apparatus.



No. 686,33I. Patented Nov. I2. I90]. c. B. POST. INITIATING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Jill 29, 1901.

(No Model.)

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' NITED STATES PATENT GFFIGE.

CHARLES E. POST, OF NEW LONDON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO WARD & STILSON, OF NEW LONDON, OHIO, A FIRM.

INITIATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 686,331, dated November 1 2, I 901.

Application filed July 29,1901. Serial No. 70,083. (No model.)

To a, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. Ps'1,a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New London, county of Huron, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Initiating Apparatus, of which I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in initiating apparatus employed in conducting initiation services for secret societies; and it consists in the combination'and arrangement of the various parts and construction of the details, as hereinafter described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and specifically pointed out in the'claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the device with the platform removed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail of pivoted supporting-bar and projecting arms.

In the views, 1 is the stand, and 2 the platform.

3 3 are transverse bars upon which the platform rests.

4 represents projecting arms to which the bars are secured. These bars are pivoted eccentrically upon the sides of the stand 1 at 5.

7 represents bars pivoted at 8 upon one side of the stand and when placed in the vertical position, as seen in Fig. 2, support the extremities of the arms 4. These vertical bars are connected by the link-bar 6, so as to move in unison. One of these bars 7 is extended below the edge of the stand at 9, where it will be accessible to the toe of the Operator, so that by a slight push on the bar the arms will be disengaged and will fall, letting down the transverse bars 4, and the platform will fall into the stand.

At the base of the stand is seen a cartridgeholder 10,so placed that the inclosed cartridge will be struck by one of the arms 4, which is provided with a point 11, arranged to engage a percussion-cap 12 on the cartridge and eX- plode it, making a great noise, simultaneous with the fall of the platform. The height of the stand is not suflicient to injure any one seated or standing thereon when they fall, but serves merely to give zest to the initiation services.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An initiating apparatus, comprising a stand, pivot-bars upon said stand and arms extending therefrom, a platform resting upon said bars, a tripping device for said arms and a detonator arranged in the path of one of the falling arms, substantially as described.

2. In an initiating apparatus the combination with a stand, of bars transversely and eccentrically pivoted on said stand, arms projecting from said bars, vertically-placed bars supporting said arms and pivoted to said stand, one of said bars extending below the edge of the stand, a link connecting said vertical bars, and a platform mounted upon said pivoted bars, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a hollow stand, of transverse bars eccentrically pivoted thereon, arms projecting therefrom, pivoted supports for said arms, a detonating'device arranged to be exploded by the fall of the said arms, and a platform mounted upon said transverse bars, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. POST.

Witnesses:

ROsE E. STILSON, S. J. MOOREADY. 

